Credit cards drive competition in Indonesia

A walk through any of Indonesia’s new shopping malls is an attack on the senses. Faced with wall to wall designer outlets and gourmet eateries, consumers are bombarded with incentives to spend money in a particular store. Using a credit card issued by Bank Mandiri in an Italian restaurant gets you 50% off your bill; Citibank’s credit card gives you a 10% discount on clothing bought in a well-known international clothing store; Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) has a limited offer of a 40% discount at a sushi restaurant.